Following his visit to the site of the fire, covering around 150 hectares, where the fire has been fully brought under control, Prime Minister Golob thanked all those who were involved in the activities and who helped calm the situation. "I would like to thank all the firefighters, soldiers, police officers, rescue workers, volunteers, the Civil Protection, municipal services and others who helped in one way or another to bring the situation under control. I commend all of you for joining forces and organising yourselves so well," he said.

He went on to add that the state had intensified its investments in the modernisation over the last two years, without which the response would not have been as fast and effective. "I am pleased to see that the measures we planned two years ago have now been implemented. In addition to the procurement of the special Air Tractor fire-fighting aircraft, the communication equipment and night-time thermal imaging drones were purchased, and the Sežana Karst water supply system upgraded," explained the Prime Minister.  "The Sežana Karst water supply system has been upgraded so that the capacities available to the firefighters at this location are significantly greater than they were for the fire two years ago. Comprehensive planning and investment have contributed to this and I am convinced that we are better prepared today."

The Prime Minister expressed his firm belief that the issue of fire-breaks would also be successfully resolved. "The funds for this have been secured, the tender is ready and I am confident that the system for regular clearance of fire-breaks, including the relevant legal basis, will be ready in due course, certainly by next summer," he said.

He also stressed the importance of a rapid response to fire outbreaks. "A rapid and decisive response significantly reduces damage, and, above all, there is less risk of the fire spreading," he said. "And just as foreign countries help us when we need help, we will help them with our troops," concluded Prime Minister Golob.

Civil Protection Commander Srečko Šestan also assessed yesterday's launch of the activities and their continuation as very successful and prompt.  He pointed out that the National Protection and Rescue Plan in the Event of a Major Fire in the Natural Environment was activated immediately, that the fire-fighting structures on the ground reacted with remarkable speed, and that the Air Tractor fire-fighting aircraft completed the water extraction within half an hour.

According to Blaž Rogelj, the commander of Komen Volunteer Fire Brigade, whose firefighters were the first to arrive on the scene, this time around 480 firefighters from the Gorenjska, Ljubljana 1, Notranjska, Obalno-kraška, Severno Primorska regions, as well as from the Sežana Fire and Rescue Service, the Nova Gorica Fire Brigade, the Ajdovščina Fire Rescue Centre and the Koper Fire Brigade have been fighting the fire. In addition to the fire-fighting units, the operation involves members of the Civil Protection, including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit,  the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Police, the First Aid Unit, the Red Cross, the Slovenian Forest Service, municipal services, aviation associations, volunteers and many others.  

In addition to the police reconnaissance helicopter, two special Air Tractor fire-fighting aircraft and two helicopters from the Slovenian Armed Forces are also deployed in the fire-fighting operation, with equipment and personnel also providing support on the ground. The two new aircraft flew 28 sorties yesterday, each dropping 3,000 litres of water, while the two helicopters of the Slovenian Armed Forces extinguished smaller fires. Leon Behin, Director-General of the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, which has a special aerial fire-fighting unit, said it was one of the most complex operations.  He highlighted the remarkable progress made over the past year and a half with the purchase of aircraft and the establishment of the aerial fire-fighting unit, which have already proved to be necessary and effective.  He also considered the role of drones in detecting fire hotspots at night to be extremely important. 

Activities at the site of the fire will continue on Saturday, after which a fire watch will be in place for a few days.